Electrical connector.



F. L. WASHBURN a; G. E. LAWRENCE. ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. APPLIOL'I'IOI FILED JAI. 13, 1910.

Patented ny 31,'191a NT i' #Vw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I'BANK'L. WASHBURN AND GIOIGE E. LAWRENCE. 0F L08 ANGELES. CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

lpeotluttoa o! Letten hunt.

Patented May 31, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that we, FRANK L. Waanatrim and tnoiion E. Lawiinncn, citizens of the United States. residing at Los Angeles. in the county ot' Los Angeles and State of California` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lllectrical Connectora, of which thel following is a specilication.

Our invention relates` to improvements in electrical connectorl and more especially to such connectors designed for use as plugs and lamp bases.

For use both as a plug and as a lain i base, we provide n connector that univ )e instantlv and conveniently attached to and detached from the txtun-s ordinarily used for lighting urposes. It will'be found that. each form ofp the invention is of simple construction and is easy and inex )ensive to manufacture.. As a connection p ug. one is provided which renders it unnecessary and impossible to twist the cord while inserting the plug'for purposes of connection to the source of electrical sup ly, in a lamp socket such for instance as t i standard Edison lainp socket..

Aside from the above advantages, the present. invention provides a plug connection. which is connected and disconnected by the pressure. of a button and without the nccesxity of turning oi'-.-u-rewing the plug itself. 'l`hi.-: results in pia-venting injurious strain to the tixturcs themselves as well as the socket and its connection.

A further object of the itiveiition is the provision of two spring-prenatal contacts, one of which is a cemratterminal under the intlueiice of a coil spring while the other is a side terminal influenced b v a leaf-spring, while the relative. positions of the two contact.-l or terminals render the. direction of the. line ot force of the respective springs at right angle.`- to each other.

A stili' further advanta fe-of this connection residen` in the fact 't iat although the niechnniain provided is sutlleient to retain the l:onnection in the socket under all ordinary conditions. yet. should the connection or the cord or lamp .secured thereto` be subjected to an)y excessive jerk or strain and sulmtantially in the direction of the. longitiidiiial axis ot' the connection. the devitie will autoinaticall)- release its hold upon .the tixture. and iiin-` save the tixture or arm from being bent or broken.

With these reneral objects in view and others that wil appear as the nature of the invention is better understood. the device cons-iets in the novel combination, arrangenient. and asseinblageof parts aa will be hereinafter full)y dtcribed, illurtrated in the accoinpaiiyin v drawing and pointed out in the appende claims.

In the drawings forminga art ofthisapplication. and in which like re Arence initiieral` designate corresponding parts throughout. the several views, Figure l is a side elevation of the device showing the saine positioned in a lamp stxfket. the latter' being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is n plan view of tite de\ ice .separated from the socket. ["ig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section laken ot' Fig. 1. ["ig. 4 is :i horizontal sectional view taken on line l--t of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the device showing its use as a lnnip base. and. Fig. (i is a detail view of the side contact and its spring mounting.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the connection device. in the main. consists'of a block or body-portion l. which is constructed of an insulating and heat-resisting medium. and preferably porcelain. central longitudinal bore :3 being provided through said body portion, is provided with a reduced end 3 which forms an abutment or shoulder 4 and positioned within this bore i the central contact. i'i which is maintained noruiall \l in an outward or projected posilioii by the coil or helical sprinr't' which is seated upon the L-sluiped metallic frame T also positioned within said bore and secured to the body` member by means of theI holdiaist devices lwhich project through the side wall of the bore and secure a second plate tt to the exterior thereof at a cnt-away portion lt) in the otiter periphery of the bodyportion. The outer end.- of aid hold-fast devices h areprovided with heads il which act na binding posts for m'uring the end 1'2 ot'- the line wite lor conductor 1B. ltwill thus be clear that a perfect metallic electric connection or circuit is established between the line wire '13 and the central contact or terminal 5 and such connection may Le rendercd more perfect by uniting thefcvcrul metallic parta` together by the use of solder, before the anic have been assembled. 'lhc body 1 nml the terminal are ponitioncd within a suitable. casing 14 which may be of an)l insulating material auch as porcelain. but. it lier. -ho'wn its being formed of Aso 'distance between the segmental stam or un brass, which is onl providefinieith asti) insulated fiber lining l5, the body-portion bein secured within said cesinhy means of t e screw 18.

he second terminal is what may be termed a side contact and is in the form of a worm segment 16 mounted sttlie outer end of a metallic leaf-spring 17 through which electrical connection is communicated by means of the screws 18 which act as binding posts for scouring the bared end 19 of the other conductor or line wire 20 said spring 17 beii'g-lo mtioned in the slot 21 n one side o tlie `y member 1 ie provided with ,a sli tly outward bend as at 21 and has s b ook 22 positioned between the same and the outer side of the body' member while the screws 18 are screwuimdsi inw mother block 2a which is positioned within the bore 2 of the body member. Thus the establishment of the complete metallic circuit between the line wires 20 and 1B and the side contact 16 und the central contact 5 respectively is clearly and simply eectod. 4 i

The 'insulated body. portion bein provided with a reduced outer end 24 an Vupon one side of which and opposite tothe side terminsl 16, the seid end havin an interrupted threaded rtion 26, while t e remainder of the perip ery of the reduced outer end consiste of tint surfaces 25', 26 and 27, the voperatif'iii of the device will be clearl apparent, when refer'ence is had especia ly to ig. 1 showing the device in use als a connection lug, and secured to sn ordina lem et 28. Said socket 28 is provid wi the ordine internal screviwthreads 29 by means of w ich the ordinary plug or lamp base, which is provided with corresponding external screw-threads, is secured in the ordinary manlief by the coaction of said screw-threads. ByI providing the rent improved construction'however, an securing `'he insulated block'or push-button 30 upon the spr'in member 17, it willA be apparent, that s ,it pressure exerted upon said button 30, will reduce'the diametricel threaded portion 16 and the interrupted threads 2li euiciently to allow the free entrance of the plug member within the threaded socket 28, whereupon a releasin of the button 30, restilts in the exertion o an outer pressure by the spring 17 and thus lockn the plug within said socket and said threadings in e ment one with `the other. During su insertion ofsaid lug within the socket it is apparent that t e centi-nl contact 5 is forced against the inner fece of the socket 28 and thus the spring ti is slightly compressed und provides a tinnen coni ot between the terminal 5 undone terminal ot the electrical supply within 'fthe base 28, while the aide ccief't 11S-engaging the screw-threaded poir-l tion 29 of the bese, makes contact with the corresponding terminal therein.

It is to be noted that while Figs: 1 and 8 illustrate the device as used as a plug, and in which the same is merely au eectrical connector between the source of ecti'ical supply and the line wires 18-20 which lead to e istance where the electrical 'energy is to be communicated, as for instance to a lmnp or an electric motor, still it will be seen, by referrin to Fig. 5, that the entire invention is equa ly as a plicable to am 1ncsndeecent lamp, in whic the casing might. be shortened as at. 31, and but short circuit wires empio ed, in lieu of lines 18 and 20,' which wou d make direct connection be tween the bindin ment of the incandescent lamp 34.

As minor detail-s of construction, it will be noted that the inner bore 2 is substantially square while the reduced end o 3 im circular in cross section; the casm 1 having an exit openin 35 for the line wires 13 and 2O is preferagly providedwith a vulcunized rubber bushing 36, while said casing may have an oval end as shown in F' 1 or squared end as shown in Fig. 3. It will be also apparent that any extreme pull exerted upon the casing 14 will remove the connector from the socket 28 wil rtout praof the body 1 contacte the metallic threading 29 of the socket 28, there ia no electrical connection made by neaaonof the fact that mah body portion ia composed of insulating ina terial, while this ia not true with to the se cntal threads 16, which an rami body or other conductive nisshown and described are what are believed to'be referable embodiments thereof, it is neve elem to be understood, that minor variations may be made in torni and A tion and the minor details `without dep from the lspirit and scope of our invention asset torthinthe ap edolaima.

To proven a short circuit., the space in the ,bottom es noted may be till with a suitable non- .condu milistanoe such as wax, to proven any possible short-circuiti. but which. substance will not wi the .actionof Ithe apri as positioned.

Ha now described our 'inventionnviildlhe mannerinwhichtbeaamoiadosigned forum, what we claim and desire to '.seeum by Lettera Patent o! the United 'Staten isi- 1. In combination with an incandescent lump bulb, of av baas, an insulated body seing thellpush-button by consequence of` posts 11 und 18 and 'the respective sides 8 and 33 of the carbon fila- -such p overcoming the reure bg' the sp 17. It will further noted t at altho the screw-threaded portion 25 los' While the forma of the invention herein ion of the bore 2. s

cured in said base, said body having a longitudinal bore and a central contact member positioned therein, a bracket positioned witliiirsaid bore, a helical spring positioned upon said bracket., and normally proiecting said central contact, electrical connection between said bracket and a line wire, a leafspring positioned upon one side of said insulated bod segmental threads positioned upon said ca-s ring, a push-button positioned u on sai( leaf-spring, said spring having eectiical connection with another line wire, a carbon filament within said bulb and said line wires in circuit therewith.

2. A device of the class described coni'- prising an incandescent lamp bulb, an in- 'sulatinbody secured thereto and provided with a orc extending therethrouY i, a contact. member positioned in said bore, electrical connection between said member and a line wire, a sprin secured to said body, a push button positioned u on said spring, the latter having electrica connection with another line wire, and a carbon filament within said bulb and said line wires in circuit therewith.

3. A device of the class described com prising an insulated bod said bod havingjy a loilgitudinal bore aiu a centra contact member positioned therein, a bracket positioned within said bore, a helical Spring positioned upon said bracket and normally projecting said central contact. electrical connection between Said bracket and a line wire. a leaf spring positioned upon one `Hide of said insulated body segmental threads positioned upon said lea s ring, a push button positioned upon sai leaf spring, said spring havini,r electrical connection with another line wire and said wires adapted to forni an electrical circuit.

4. A device of the class described coinprising an insulated body, said body provided with a longitudinal bore, a resiliently mounted central contact positioned iii said bore, said bore ubstantially tilled with an insulating mater al, a leaf springY secured to the side of .'-Iaid insulated body, a conductin threaded portion secured to .said spring an(l electrical counectitui between said spring and inother line wire, a tubular casing for laaid body and provided with a cut-out portion, and a push button cari ied hy the spring and projecting through `aid cut-out portion beyond the plane ot thtl exterior of said casing.

ln testimony whereof we atiix our Signaturca` in presence of two witnesses.

,FRANK li. \Vi\Slll5Ultl\'. GllOlttll li. LAWRIGNUIQ.

Witnesses:

D. L. eoirr, G. W. GiaeoN. 

